Method and system for logging into and providing access to a computer system via a communication network

ABSTRACT

A method and system for logging into and providing access to multiple computer systems via the Internet or other communications network using a single authenticating process (e.g. username and password).

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a computer method and system for logging into and providing access to a computer system via a communications network, and more particularly, to a method and system for allowing a user to log into and obtain access to multiple computer systems by provided a single username and password which is provided only one time per session.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A common problem for computer systems is the control of access to different computers through a network. This control is useful for a number of reasons. For example, access control can be used as a means of identifying a user or resource within a computer system so that certain data can be presented to that specific resource or user. Another example of access control may be to only allow certain resources or individuals to be able to access particular information stored on a computer system.

[0003] One implementation of access control is through the use of authentication information. Prior to allowing access to certain information, a computer system requests authentication information from the user or resource making the information request. For example, one form of authentication information can be a username and password pair. A username and password are created and stored on a computer system. When a resource wishes to access the computer system, that resource must input (e.g. type) this username and password combination into the computer system through a user-interface (e.g. keyboard, browser, electronic card reader). The computer system then matches the information as inputted by the user against the information previously stored in the computer system's database. If the user inputs a username/password combination that matches a username/password combination as stored in the computer system's database, the computer system considers the user authenticated and allows the user access to data on the computer system. The username/password pair is just one example of a way of authenticating a user or resource. For example, instead of a username/password, a resource might need to provide a number, a text string, or some other information. This access control is particularly important when using a large number of computers on an network, where sharing data between different computers allows for an increased amount of services and functionality.

[0004] The Internet comprises a vast number of computers and computer networks that are interconnected through communication links. The interconnected computers exchange information using various services, such as electronic mail, Gopher and the World Wide Web (“WWW”). The WWW services allows a server computer system (i.e. Web server or Web site) to send graphical pages of information and other data (“Web pages”) to a remote client computer system. A particular Web page may be set up as accessible by anyone on the WWW, a “Public page”. Alternatively, the publisher of Web page may restrict access to a particular Web page (“Private Page”) and only allow access to a Private Page upon certain authentication, such as requiring the user to provide a username and password. Then, depending on whether authentication is required, or such proper authentication is provided, the remote client computer system can then display the Web pages. Each resource (e.g., computer or Web pages) of the WWW is uniquely identifiable by a Uniform Resource Locator (“URL”). To view a specific Web page, a client computer system specifies the URL for that Web page in a request (e.g. a HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”) request). The request is then forwarded to the Web server that supports the Web page. When that Web server receives the request, it sends that Web page to the client computer system. In the case of a private page, the Web server first determines whether or not the client computer system is properly authenticated, and only then does it send the page. When the client computer system receives that Web page, it typically displays the Web page using a browser. A browser is a special-purpose application program that effects the requesting of Web pages and the displaying of Web pages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the teachings of this invention, there is disclosed a method of permissioning at least one client to access via a network at least one of a plurality of computer systems by the use of an access control system. The method comprises the steps of receiving a client request including a password and directed to a selected one of the plurality of computer systems, processing the received request as to whether the one client is authenticated or not to access information held by the selected one computer system and, if the one client is not authenticated, transmitting a message from the one computer system via the network to the client requesting the client to communicate with the access control system and to obtain authentication. Thereafter, a communication bearing the client's password is received via the network from the client to the access control system, whereby the received client communication is processed to determine whether the access control system had previously received the transmitted client's password. If the access control system had previously received the client password, the access control system provides and transmits an authentication message via the network to the client to be redirected to the one computer system, whereby the one computer system receives and processes the authentication message to permit the client access to information held by the one computer system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The following drawings are provided to facilitate an understanding of the nature and operation of this invention:

[0007]FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the relationship of the login-server to the private servers and the client in accordance with the teachings of this invention;

[0008]FIGS. 2A and 2B show a flow diagram of the process that enables single-login for a resource (e.g., a user);

[0009]FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram that enables single-signoff for a resource (e.g., a user); and

[0010]FIGS. 4A to 4D illustrate various webpages that are used by this invention to prompt the input of specified data by the client.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides a method and system for logging into and out of and providing access to a computer system via a communications network through a single-login system 10 as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the single-login system 10 which supports the single-login to a login server 12 over a network 40, which in one illustrative embodiment takes the form of the Internet using the World Wide Web. In turn, the login server 12 comprises a login server engine 14, a user database 16, and various Web pages 18 a, b and c. The single-login system 10 also comprises a plurality of private server systems 20 a-n, each of which includes a login manager 22, an engine 24 and a plurality of web pages 18 a-c.

[0012] Each user initially wishing to use the login server 12 to access different computers or servers over the network 40 must first be set up in the login server 12. In one illustrative application of the single-login system 10, this set-up occurs as follows. A user, through a web browser or client 30, interfaces with the login server 12 through the network 40. Through Web pages 18, the user creates an account comprised of the authentication information (e.g. a username and password) as selected by the user. The user can also enter personal information (e.g. postal address, phone number, email address, etc.), which is then stored in the login database 16 along with the username and password. The user also indicates to the login server 12 what, if any, of his or her personal information, he or she permits to be disclosed to specific private servers 20. All of this information is encrypted and stored in the login database 16.

[0013] Then, when a user on a browser client 30 attempts to access information stored on private servers 20 a-n, the private servers 20 a-n generate a request as to whether the user on the client system 30 has provided a proper username and password. This request is sent through the network 40 to the login server engine 24. The login server engine 24 process the request as follows. If the user has provided such information, the login server engine 24 sends back an answer to the private server 20 confirming that the user has entered a proper username and password and is authenticated. The login server 12 also makes available to the private servers 20 a-n a properly authenticated user's profile data as stored on the login user database 16. These requests are made by the private server 20, though the login manager 22, to the login server 12 to verify that the user is authenticated and to write all user profile information through the user's client system 30.

[0014] One skilled in the art would appreciate that the single-login technique can be used in various environments other than the Internet. For example, single-login can be used on any communication network and for any resource requiring authentication. Examples include the login of appliances, cell phone or a cable television tuner box on a communications network. The single-login system of the present invention reduces the number of user names and passwords a user must have to access multiple computer systems from many to single username/password pair. The single-login system 10 also reduces the frequency at which a user must provide their user names and passwords to multiple computer systems from many times to a single time per session. The login server system 10 also allows for a single action on the part of the user to log off of all of the other server system 20 a-n previously logged into. The login system also allows for a private server 20 to store it's own custom-defined data, which is stored with and associated with a particular user's profile within the login database 16.

[0015]FIGS. 2A and B show a flow diagram of the process that enables single-login for a resource (e.g., a user). To enable single-logon, the login database 16 (FIG. 1) must be setup with information regarding a user. In this example, a user's account comprises of authenticating information (a username and password) and personal profile data (e.g. the user's address, phone number, etc.) as well as access privileges to the private information (e.g. what entities or private servers 20 a-c are permitted to receive which pieces of a user's personal profile data). The authentication information, personal profile data and access privileges can be created by the user and stored on the login server database 16. Once set up, the login server 12 works as follows. In step 201 as shown in FIG. 2A, a resource, in this example a user, on its browser 31 on a client system 30, sends a request to one of the private servers 20 to receive private information. In step 202, the private server 20 receives the user's request for private information. The private server 20 is programmed with a program called the login manager 22 (FIG. 1) to process the requests as follows. In step 203, the login manager 22 checks within the private server 20 to see if a flag has been set indicating that the browser 31 is currently authorized to receive private information as the result of an earlier successful login for this particular user. If this flag indicates a proper earlier authentication from the login server 12, step 204 is initiated, i.e., the private server 20 responds to the request by sending the requested information through the network 40 (FIG. 1) to the browser 30 for viewing or access by the user. If the login manager 22 determines that that this flag has not been set, step 205 is initiated. In step 205, the private server 20, having determined that the user is not authenticated to receive private information, redirects the user's browser 31 to the login server 12 (FIG. 1). This is done by sending information from the private server 20 to the browser 31 with instructions to the browser 31 to send a request through the network 40 to the login server 12. Along with the instructions for redirection, the private server 20 also includes additional information to be forwarded as part of the redirection. This information will be used by the login server 12 to properly process the user's login. This information “redirect information” includes:

[0016] A unique identification number identifying one of the private servers 20 a-n.

[0017] The return address of the private server 20 that initiated the request.

[0018] Optional customization data that is used to change the appearance of the login web page 18 as presented by the login server 12.

[0019] In step 206, the browser 31 receives the redirect request along with the redirect information. In step 207, the browser 31 processes the redirect request by sending a login request through the network 40 from the browser 31 to the login server 12. The redirect request also contains a unique session identifier. This session identification number is a number that is assigned to the browser 31 upon its first connection to the login server 12. This unique session identifier is built into the features of the protocol used by the WWW. In step 208, the login server 12 receives the login request from the browser 31 along with the redirect information and the unique session ID. In step 209, the login server 12 processes the login request by searching the login database 16 (FIG. 1) for a user profile that contains the same session identification as used by the login request as forwarded with the redirect information. If the browser 31 has previously provided authentication information (e.g. username and password) to the login server 12, the login server 12 has already saved that unique session ID in the login server database 16 and matched it with the user's profile. So, if the login server 12 matches a unique session ID as forwarded with the redirect information, with the same unique Session ID stored with a profile in the login database 16, the login server 12 sets an internal flag indicating that the browser 31 has previously been authenticated and proceeds to step 216.

[0020] If the login server 12 does not find a unique session ID match in the login database 16, it proceeds to step 210 as shown in FIG. 2B. In step 210, the login server 12 sends a request through the network 40 to the browser 31 requesting the user to provide the proper authentication information (e.g. username and password). This is done by sending a web page 18 a (FIG. 4A) from the login server 12 to the user's browser 31. This web page 18 a provides a first blank field 18 a-1 to be filed in with the username, a second blank field 18 a-2 to be filled in with the password, and a graphical picture of a button 18 a-3 that is user actuated to submit this information. In step 211, the user inputs respectively their username and password into the username field 18 a-1 and password field 18 a-2 on the Web page 18 a (FIG. 4A) as displayed on the browser 31. Then the user clicks on the submit button 18 a-3. In step 212, the username and password are sent in an encrypted form from the browser 31 to the login server 12. In step 213, the login server 12 receives the username and password through the network 40 and processes the information. In particular, the login server 12 searches the login database 16 for authentication information (e.g. username and password combination) that matches the current information submitted by the browser 31. If the current authentication information as submitted by the browser 31 does not match information stored in the login database 16, then the login server 12 determines the login attempt as a failure and then proceeds to step 214. In step 214, the login server 12 sends a Web page 18 b (FIG. 4B) to the user's browser 31 which displays text 403 stating that the login was a failure and that the user should try again. The user is then returned to step 210, presenting the user with the web page 18 a (FIG. 4A) requesting that they again enter their authentication information (e.g. username and password).

[0021] However, if the submitted authentication information (e.g. username and password) as submitted in step 211 matches authentication information stored in the login database 16, the login is determined successful, then the login server 12 continues to process the login as detailed in step 215. In step 215, the login server 12 sends a Web page 18 c (FIG. 4C) to the user's browser 31 which displays text stating that the login was a success. In step 216, the login server 12 internally records that login was successful (e.g. providing a valid username and password). This is done by storing this information in the login database 16, along with the unique session ID as forwarded from the browser 31, including a unique identifier of the private server 20, as well as the date and time of the login. This information is stored in the login database 16 with the user's profile. In step 217, the login server 12 extracts data items from the user's profile to be extracted and passed to the private server 20. The login server 12 only extracts data from the user's profile that the user has previously authorized login to disclose to the particular private server 20. In step 218, the user's data, including an indication of the fact that the user has been authenticated (e.g. by inputting a valid username and password) is sent in an encrypted form to the browser 31 through the network 40. Along with this information, are instructions to the browser 31 to pass this information from the browser 31 to the private server 20 as indicated in the redirect information. In step 219, the browser 31 receives the information, redirects instructions and processes the information, and forwards it to the private server 20. In Step 220, the private server 20, through its login manager 22, receives and processes the forwarded data as follows. The login manager 22 sets an internal Boolean flag indicating that the user is currently authenticated. The login manager 22 then forwards the profile data on to the part of the private server 20 that requires the personalized data. In step 220, the private server 20 sends the content originally requested in step 201 to the browser 31. In step 221, the browser 31 displays or processes the requested information.

[0022]FIG. 3 illustrates a flow diagram of the process that enables single-signoff for a resource (e.g. user). In step 301, the user, through the browser 31, accesses a private server web page 26 (FIG. 4D) containing a “signoff” button through the network 40. This web page 26 is displayed on the user's browser 31. In step 302, the user, through the browser 31, selects or clicks on a graphical button 26-1 indicating signoff. In step 303, the browser 31 transmits the signoff request through the network 40 to the login server 12. In step 304, the login server 12 receives the signoff request and processes it as follows. The login server 12 accesses the user's profile data as stored in the login database 16 and retrieves the list of all of the private servers 20 a-n to which the user is currently signed in. This list of current private server logins was stored earlier in the login database 16 as a result of the user signing in to each private server 20 (see FIG. 2, step 216). In step 305, the login server 12 sends the list of private servers 20 through the network 40 to the browser 31 with instructions to direct a signoff request to each of the private servers 20 contained in the list. In step 306, the user's browser 31 processes the information as sent by the login server 12, and forwards instructions to each of the private servers 20 that the user has logged off of the system 10. In step 307, each private server 20 receives the signoff request from the browser 31 and indicates on its own system that the user has logged out and is no longer authenticated. 

We claim:
 1. A method of permissioning at least one user to access via a network at least one of a plurality of computer systems by the use of an access control system, said method comprising the steps of: a) receiving a user request directed to a selected one of the plurality of computer systems, the user request including a session identifier; b) processing the received request as to whether the one user is authenticated or not to access information held by the selected one computer system; c) if the one user is not authenticated as determined in step b), transmitting a message from the one computer system via the network to the user requesting the user to communicate with the access control system and to provide its authentication information to obtain authentication; d) receiving a communication via the network from the user at the access control system, the communication bearing the user's session identifier; e) processing the received user communication to determine whether the access control system had previously received the transmitted user's authentication information; f) if the access control system had previously received the authentication information as determined in step e), the access control system provides and transmits an authentication message via the network to the user to be redirected to the one computer system; and g) the one computer system receiving and processing the authentication message to permit the user access to information held by the one computer system. 